Configuration of a Stimulation Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method for configuring an apparatus ( 1 ) to apply stimulation to a body comprises identifying ( 52 ) one or more stimulation pads ( 40 ) connected to the apparatus. The method further comprises receiving ( 56 ) a user selection of a stimulation pad ( 40 ) and activating ( 58 ) a visual indicator ( 42 ) on the stimulation pad ( 40 ) selected by the user. This method can assist a user to position stimulation pads on the body correctly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stimulation apparatus. In particular,the present invention concerns a method for configuring a stimulationapparatus, and a stimulation apparatus that can assist a user toconfigure the stimulation apparatus. Particular examples of theinvention relate to an apparatus for applying electrical stimulation,heat therapy and/or thermostimulation to a human or animal body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For a variety of therapeutic applications, several treatment modalitiesare currently known in the art including electrical stimulation, heattherapy and thermostimulation.

Electrical stimulation involves the application of an electrical currentto a single muscle or a group of muscles through one or more stimulationpads that are temporarily attached to the skin. The resulting musclecontraction can produce a variety of effects from strengthening injuredmuscles and reducing edema to relieving pain and promoting healing. Thepads are usually quite small and typically powered with a battery. Thisresults in the application of a small amount of power and a lowtreatment depth of the resulting electric field. The shallow depth ofthe electric field generated by conventional electrical stimulationsystems limits performance and patient benefit. Some systems haveattempted to address this limitation by applying more current, oftenfrom a line or mains supply source. However, the small size ofconventional electrical stimulation pads is such that on the applicationof larger amounts of power, i.e. the use of higher currents, patientsoften report the experience of pain or discomfort.

Heat therapy itself is very useful as it has a number of effects such asrelaxation of muscle spasm and increased blood flow that promoteshealing. However, combination therapy, i.e. the synergistic use of othermodalities such as massage, ultrasound and/or electrical stimulation hasbeen found to be more effective than heat therapy alone.

Thermostimulation is one such combination therapy that involves the useof heat therapy and electrical stimulation simultaneously. Withthermostimulation, the healing benefits of heat are provided along withthe strengthening, toning, pain relieving and healing benefits ofelectrical stimulation. Moreover, the application of heat has been foundeffective in that it allows the patient to tolerate higher currents.This yields higher electric field strengths, greater depths ofpenetration and, therefore, more positive results than could be achievedwith electrical stimulation without heat.

Many known electrical stimulation systems have two to four channels andtherefore allow only one or two pads to be applied to a patient. Theusefulness of such systems is limited by the small number of channels,which prevents electrical stimulation being applied to more than tworegions of the body at once, and thereby prolongs the time taken fortreatment if numerous regions of the body need to be treated. A furtherdisadvantage of these known electrical stimulation systems is that allof the pads are controlled by a common controller, which generateselectrical pulses for all of the pads and determines the amplitude andduration of each electrical pulse. A user has little or no control overthe pulses that are generated and, indeed, it is often not possible fora user to know the properties of the pulses without using anoscilloscope. Yet another disadvantage of these known electricalstimulation systems is that they are limited in the number of treatmentmodalities that they can apply. For example, some systems can only applyelectrical stimulation, whilst other systems can apply onlythermostimulation.

An improved thermostimulation apparatus is disclosed by the Applicant'searlier patent application, International Patent Application No.PCT/GB10/002,132, filed on 18 Nov. 2010 and entitled “ThermostimulationSystem Including Multilayer Pads with Integrated TemperatureRegulation”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference. This apparatus has a console for providing electricalcurrents for thermal and electrical stimulation in response to a firstinput from an operator via at least one electrical connector. An inlinecontrol system is coupled to the electrical connector for regulating thecurrents in response to a second input from an operator and atemperature feedback signal via a second electrical connector. Athermostimulation pad is coupled to the inline control system via thesecond electrical connector. A plurality of inline control systems andthermostimulation pads can be connected to the console and, in thiscase, each inline control system is independent of the other inlinecontrol systems. Thus, it is not possible to coordinate the times atwhich each thermostimulation pad generates an electrical pulse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention provides a method for configuring anapparatus to apply stimulation to a body, the method comprising:identifying one or more stimulation pads connected to the apparatus;receiving a user selection of a stimulation pad; and activating a visualindicator on the stimulation pad selected by the user. The methodpreferably further comprises displaying a visual representation of oneor more identified stimulation pads. Displaying a visual representationof one or more identified stimulation pads preferably comprisesdisplaying a visual representation of each stimulation pad positionedupon a region of the body to which that pad should be attached.Receiving a user selection of a stimulation pad preferably comprisesreceiving a user selection of a visual representation of one or moreidentified stimulation pads. Identifying one or more stimulation padspreferably comprises receiving an inventory of stimulation padsconnected to the apparatus. Identifying one or more stimulation padspreferably comprises polling one or more interface cards to which thestimulation pads are connected. The method preferably further comprisesgenerating an inventory of stimulation pads connected to the apparatusbased upon the polling.

A further aspect of the invention provides a processor-readable mediumcomprising instructions which, when executed, cause the processor toperform a method for configuring an apparatus to apply stimulation to abody as described herein.

A further aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for applyingstimulation to a body, the apparatus comprising: means for identifyingone or more stimulation pads connected to the apparatus; means forreceiving a user selection of a stimulation pad; and means foractivating a visual indicator on the stimulation pad selected by theuser. The apparatus preferably comprises means for displaying a visualrepresentation of one or more identified stimulation pads. The means fordisplaying a visual representation of one or more identified stimulationpads is preferably operable to display a visual representation of eachstimulation pad positioned upon a region of the body to which that padshould be attached. The means for receiving a user selection of astimulation pad is preferably operable to receive a user selection of avisual representation of one or more identified stimulation pads. Themeans for identifying one or more stimulation pads preferably comprisesmeans for receiving an inventory of stimulation pads connected to theapparatus. The means for identifying one or more stimulation padspreferably comprises means for polling one or more interface cards towhich the stimulation pads are connected. The apparatus preferablycomprises means for generating an inventory of stimulation padsconnected to the apparatus based upon the polling.

Also disclosed herein is an apparatus for applying stimulation to abody, the apparatus comprising a main device for connection to one ormore interface devices, each interface device being operable to applystimulation to the body and comprising a controller for controllingapplication of stimulation to the body, wherein the main devicecomprises a controller for controlling the operation of the controllerof each interface device. Preferably, any of the controllers describedherein are programmable. For example, any of the controllers may beimplemented by a microprocessor, microcontroller or some other form ofcentral processing unit. As another example, any of the controllers maybe implemented by programmable logic, such as a field-programmable gatearray (FPGA). Alternatively, any of the controllers may be implementedusing discrete logic or an application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC). The controller of the main device is preferably operable tocontrol the operation of the controller of each interface device bycoordinating and/or synchronising the times at which a plurality ofinterface devices stimulate the body. The controller of the main deviceis preferably operable to generate a start signal which, when receivedby the controller of an interface device, causes the interface device toapply stimulation to the body. The controller of the main device ispreferably operable to control the operation of the controller of eachinterface device by transmitting a respective message to the controllerof an interface device, wherein the message specifies one or moreparameters of stimulation to be applied to the body. The main device ispreferably operable to communicate with a display device, and thecontroller of the main device is preferably operable to be controlled bythe display device. The controller of the main device is preferablyoperable to receive a message from the display device, wherein themessage specifies one or more parameters of stimulation to be applied tothe body by one or more of the interface devices.

Also disclosed herein is an apparatus for applying stimulation to abody, the apparatus comprising an interface device operable to applystimulation to the body and comprising a controller for controllingapplication of stimulation to the body, wherein the controller of theinterface device is operable to be controlled by a controller of a maindevice when said interface device is connected to said main device. Thecontroller of the interface device is preferably operable to cause theinterface device to begin applying stimulation to the body when a startsignal is received from the controller of the main device. Thecontroller of the interface device is preferably operable to cause theinterface device to apply stimulation to the body in accordance with oneor more parameters specified in a message received from the controllerof the main device.

Also disclosed herein is an apparatus for applying stimulation to abody, the apparatus comprising a display device operable to communicatewith a main device, the main device comprising a controller and beingsuitable for connection to one or more interface devices, each interfacedevice being operable to apply stimulation to the body under the controlof the controller of the main device, wherein the display devicecomprises a controller that is programmed to control the operation ofthe controller of the main device. The controller of the display deviceis operable to control the operation of the controller of the maindevice by instructing the main device to transmit a start signal to oneor more interface devices, wherein the start signal is operable to causean interface device to apply stimulation to the body. The main devicepreferably comprises a computer program for allowing a user to design astimulation program. The controller of the display device is preferablyoperable to transmit a message to the main device, wherein the messagespecifies one or more parameters of stimulation to be applied to thebody by one or more of the interface devices. The parameters preferablyinclude any one or more of: a total number of pulses in a sequence ofpulses; an amplitude of one or more pulses; a time at which one or morepulses are to be generated; a number of times that a sequence of pulsesis to be repeated; a temperature; and/or a length of time for which atemperature is to be generated.

Also disclosed herein is a processor-readable medium comprisinginstructions for execution by a processor of a main device for applyingstimulation to a body, said main device being connectable to one or moreinterface devices, each interface device being operable to applystimulation to the body and comprising a controller for controllingapplication of stimulation to the body, wherein the instructions areexecutable to cause the processor to control the operation of thecontroller of each interface device. The instructions are preferablyexecutable to cause the processor of the main device to control theoperation of the controller of each interface device by coordinatingand/or synchronising the times at which a plurality of interface devicesstimulate the body. The instructions are preferably executable to causethe processor to generate a start signal which, when received by thecontroller of an interface device, causes the interface device to applystimulation to the body. The instructions are preferably executable tocause the processor to control the operation of the controller of eachinterface device by transmitting a respective message to the controllerof an interface device, wherein the message specifies one or moreparameters of stimulation to be applied to the body. The instructionsare preferably executable to cause the processor to receive instructionsand/or data from a display device, and to cause the processor to operatein accordance with the instructions and/or data received from thedisplay device. The instructions are preferably executable to cause theprocessor to receive a message from the display device, wherein themessage specifies one or more parameters of stimulation to be applied tothe body by one or more of the interface devices.

Also disclosed herein is a processor-readable medium comprisinginstructions for execution by a processor of an interface deviceoperable to apply stimulation to a body, said interface device beingconnectable to a main device, wherein the instructions are executable tocause the processor to receive instructions and/or data from the maindevice, and to cause the processor to operate in accordance with theinstructions and/or data received from the main device. The instructionsare preferably executable to cause the interface device to beginapplying stimulation to the body when a start signal is received fromthe main device. The instructions are preferably executable to cause theinterface device to apply stimulation to the body in accordance with oneor more parameters specified in a message received from the main device.

Also disclosed herein is a processor-readable medium comprisinginstructions for execution by a processor, said processor being operableto communicate with a main device of an apparatus for applyingstimulation to a body, the main device comprising a controller and beingsuitable for connection to one or more interface devices, each interfacedevice being operable to apply stimulation to the body under the controlof the controller of the main device, wherein the instructions areexecutable to cause the processor to control the operation of thecontroller of the main device. The instructions are preferablyexecutable to cause the processor to control the operation of thecontroller of the main device by instructing the main device to transmita start signal to one or more interface devices, wherein the startsignal is operable to cause an interface device to apply stimulation tothe body. The instructions are preferably executable to allow a user todesign a stimulation program. The instructions are executable to causethe processor to transmit a message to the main device, wherein themessage specifies one or more parameters of stimulation to be applied tothe body by one or more of the interface devices. The parameters includeany one or more of: a total number of pulses in a sequence of pulses; anamplitude of one or more pulses; a time at which one or more pulses areto be generated; a number of times that a sequence of pulses is to berepeated; a temperature; and/or a length of time for which a temperatureis to be generated.

A further aspect of the invention provides an apparatus substantially asdescribed herein and/or as illustrated in any of the accompanyingdrawings. A further aspect of the invention provides a methodsubstantially as described herein and/or as illustrated in any of theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the invention will now be described, purely by wayof example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein likeelements are indicated using like reference signs, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a stimulation apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the stimulation apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the different parts of the stimulationapparatus;

FIG. 4 illustrates the use of the display and control unit to assist auser in placing stimulation pads;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method performed by the display and controlunit of the stimulation apparatus to assist a user in placing astimulation pad; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method performed by the main unit of thestimulation apparatus to assist a user in placing a stimulation pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a stimulation apparatus1. In a preferred example, the stimulation apparatus 1 is athermostimulation apparatus that is capable of applying heat therapy andelectrical stimulation simultaneously.

The apparatus 1 comprises a main unit 24. The main unit 24 comprises aCentral Processing Unit (CPU) 7, a backplane 23, a power supply unit(PSU) 6 and a communication interface 9. The backplane 23 comprises aplurality of electrical connectors 26 a, 26 b to which a respectiveinterface card 3, 4 can be connected. A preferred example of thebackplane 23 comprises twenty such electrical connectors, although otherexamples of the backplane 23 can comprise more or fewer electricalconnectors. The backplane 23 further comprises a bus 27 to enablecommunication between the CPU 7 and each interface card 3, 4. The bus ispreferably an I²C bus, but any other suitable type of bus may be used.The apparatus 1 is preferably powered from a mains electrical supply 45by means of the PSU 6. The communication interface 9 is operable toenable communication between the CPU 7 and a display and control unit 2.The communication interface 9 may be an Ethernet, IEEE 802.11 (Wi Fi®),Bluetooth® and/or cellular telephony interface, or any other suitabletype of wired or wireless interface.

The apparatus 1 may comprise a display and control unit 2. The displayand control unit 2 is preferably a general purpose computer comprising aCPU 30, a memory 32, an input device 34 (such as a touchscreen,keyboard, mouse, touchpad, microphone and/or camera), an output device36 (such as a display and/or speaker), and a communication interface 38.The memory 32 is suitable for storing instructions that can be executedby the CPU 30 and for storing data. The communication interface of thedisplay and control unit 2 is compatible with the communicationinterface 9 of the apparatus 1. In a preferred example, the display andcontrol unit 2 is a suitably-programmed Apple® iPad®. However, othertypes of suitably-programmed computer may also be used, such as ageneric tablet, laptop or desktop computer.

The apparatus 1 may also comprise one or more, and preferably up totwenty, thermostimulation interface cards 3 and/or optional interfacecards 4. Some embodiments of the invention can have more than twentythermostimulation interface cards 3 and/or optional interface cards 4.Each interface card 3, 4 has its own CPU 5. Each interface card 3, 4also comprises a memory 29 suitable for storing instructions that can beexecuted by the CPU 5 and for storing data. Each interface card 3, 4further comprises a connector 28 for connection to a correspondingconnector 26 of the main unit 24.

Each thermostimulation interface card 3 can be connected to a pad 40 forthe application of electric stimulation, heating and/or cooling to apatient. The structure of suitable pads 40 for electric stimulation orthermostimulation is known to those skilled in the art, and need not bedescribed herein. Each thermostimulation interface card 3 may be adaptedto receive bio-feedback, such as temperature measurements fromthermocouples or temperature sensors located in the pad(s). Suitabletemperature sensors include platinum resistance temperature sensors,such as Pt1000 or Pt100 sensors.

Whereas the thermostimulation interface cards 3 are specificallyconfigured to apply electric stimulation, heating and/or cooling, thefunctionality of the optional interface cards 4 can be much more varied.For example, an optional interface card 4 can be designed to takebio-impedance measurements 16, thereby allowing bio-feedback control byusing tissue properties (and, in particular, the impedance of the body)for optimizing the effect of the output from the pad. As anotherexample, other types of optional interface card 4 can be designed toapply ultrasound 17 stimulation, laser 18 stimulation, radio frequency(RF) energy stimulation or microwave energy stimulation, via the use ofappropriate transducers in conjunction with the optional interface card4. For ease of reference, the transducers connected to an optionalinterface card 4 are referred to herein as pads 40, although it will beappreciated that these pads will have a different structure from thoseused for thermostimulation if they are designed to apply differentstimulation modalities, such as ultrasound or laser stimulation.

The interface cards 3, 4, together with any pads, may be powered from amains electrical supply 45 via the apparatus 1 by means of the PSU 6. Anoptional interface card 4 may comprise its own dedicated PSU 43, whichmay be advantageous if the optional interface card requires a voltagethat cannot be provided by PSU 6, or if the stimulation modalityprovided by the optional interface card consumes more power than can beprovided by PSU 6.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart providing an overview of an example of astimulation apparatus as described herein. Three types of pads areillustrated, namely a combined electromagnetic muscle stimulation andheating pad 19, a cooling pad using either cryogenic technology 20 orliquid in combination with a heat sink 21, a combined cooling andheating pad using Peltier elements 22.

The operation and functionality of the stimulation apparatus 1 will nowbe described.

The display and control unit 2 provides a user interface to thestimulation apparatus 1. For example, the display and control unit 2allows a user to start, stop, pause and configure the stimulation thatis provided by the apparatus 1. The display and control unit 2 ispreferably operable to allow a user to design a stimulation program, asdescribed in more detail below. The display and control unit 2 ispreferably operable to assist a user in correctly positioning pads onthe body, as described in more detail below.

The display and control unit 2 is preferably capable of obtainingsoftware or firmware to be executed by the CPU 7 of the main unit 24and/or the CPUs 5 of the interface cards 3, 4, and providing thatsoftware or firmware to the appropriate CPU 7, 5. In particular, thedisplay and control unit 2 can obtain updated software or firmwarehaving improved functionality, and can provide the updated software orfirmware to the appropriate CPU 7, 5 via the communication interfaces 9,38. The updated software or firmware can be downloaded from a server,via a communication network and communication interface 38, in anysuitable manner known to those skilled in the art. In the event that theupdated software or firmware is for an interface card 3, 4, the updatedsoftware or firmware is received by the CPU 7 of the main unit 24, andthen transmitted to the appropriate interface card(s) 3, 4 via the bus27.

The display and control unit 2 can also store data on a user and his/hertreatment program, or can communicate with a remote database viacommunication interface 38 to store, retrieve and update suchuser-related data. The display and control unit 2 is preferably operableto play audiovisual media whilst stimulation is in progress, such asadvertisements or relaxing music and/or video.

The CPU 7 of the main unit 24 is operable to receive and interpretmessages from the display and control unit 2 via the communicationinterface 9. Several types of messages are provided, each havingdifferent functionality as described in the following paragraphs.

A first type of message specifies parameters of electrical stimulationthat is to be applied to a patient via a thermostimulation interfacecard 3. Such a message comprises data fields including: an identifier(such as an address) that uniquely identifies the particularthermostimulation card 3 that is to apply the electrical stimulation;the total number of pulses in a sequence of pulses that is to be appliedto a patient; the amplitude (e.g. the voltage) of each pulse in thesequence; the time at which each pulse in the sequence is to begenerated; and the number of times that the sequence of pulses is to berepeated.

A second type of message specifies parameters of heat therapy that is tobe applied to a patient via a thermostimulation interface card 3. Such amessage comprises data fields including: an identifier (such as anaddress) that uniquely identifies the particular thermostimulation card3 that is to apply the heat therapy; the temperature that is to beapplied to the patient; and the length of time for which thattemperature is to be applied.

The parameters of thermostimulation can be specified by a sequence ofmessages comprising messages of the first and second types, or by athird type of message that specifies the parameters of both electricalstimulation and heat therapy.

A fourth type of message contains data that specifies parameters ofstimulation that is to be applied to a patient via an optional interfacecard 4. The structure of the fourth type of message will depend upon themodality of stimulation that a particular optional interface card 4 iscapable of applying and so, for example, the structure of a message forultrasound 17 stimulation is different from the structure of a messagefor laser 18 stimulation.

Generally speaking, the CPU 7 of the main unit 24 is operable to receivea message that specifies one or more parameters of stimulation that isto be applied to a patient via the interface cards 3, 4. Upon receivingsuch a message from the display and control unit 2, the CPU 7 relays themessage, via the bus 27, to the CPU 5 of the interface card 3, 4 thatwas uniquely identified in the message. Upon receiving a message fromthe CPU 7, the CPU 5 may store the parameters specified in the messagein memory 29. The CPU 5 then waits to receive a start signal from theCPU 7 via the bus 27. Upon receiving the start signal from the CPU 7,the CPU 5 causes the interface card 3, 4 to begin applying thestimulation that is specified by the received message. The CPU 5 willcontinue to cause stimulation to be applied until a stop signal isreceived from the CPU 7 via the bus 27. If a stop signal is notreceived, the CPU 5 will cause the stimulation specified by the messageto be repeated. The CPU 7 is operable to transmit start signals and stopsignals to the CPUs 5 of appropriate interface cards 3, 4 wheninstructed to do so by the display and control unit 2.

The stimulation that is to be applied to a user can be preciselycontrolled using the messages described above. These messages can allowstimulation to be tailored to the requirements of a particular user.Furthermore, the efficacy of a particular stimulation regime can beassessed, since precisely controlling the stimulation in this manner canallow a dose-response characteristic to be calculated for a stimulationregime. This can allow more efficacious stimulation regimes to bedeveloped.

The CPU 7 of the main unit 24 is also operable to receive messages fromthe interface cards 3, 4. In particular, a CPU 5 can transmit messagesregarding the status of its associated interface card 3, 4 to the CPU 7.These status messages can include, for example: an indication that aninterface card 3, 4 and/or its attached pads 40 are operating normally;a notification of a software error in an interface card 3, 4; anotification of a hardware error in an interface card 3, 4 or itsattached pad 40; the temperature of a thermostimulation pad 40; and/oran alarm in the event that the temperature, voltage or current of athermostimulation pad 40 exceeds a predefined threshold. The CPU 7 canact on these messages in a manner that is appropriate to the content ofthe message, for example by disabling or resetting a malfunctioninginterface card 3, 4, or by sending status information to the display andcontrol unit 2.

Each thermostimulation interface card 3 is operable to drive thecurrents and voltages needed to provide the desired electrical pulses ata stimulation pad 40, under the control of its CPU 5. The CPU 5 alsomonitors the actual currents and voltages that are generated. The CPU 5is able to limit the current and voltage if they are found to exceedpredetermined thresholds, thereby ensuring user safety. The CPU 5 mayalso transmit an alarm message to the CPU 7 of the main device 24 if thecurrent and/or voltage are found to exceed a predetermined threshold.

Each thermostimulation interface card 3 is also operable to generate thecurrent needed for heating a thermostimulation pad during heat therapy,under the control of its CPU 5. It is extremely important that eachthermostimulation interface card 3 is electrically isolated so as toprevent the heating current being driven between pads, which mightresult in a dangerous situation whereby current is driven through thebody. In order to prevent a dangerously high current being driventhrough the body, each thermostimulation interface card 3 contains acircuit for limiting the heating current to a hardwired pre-set maximumvalue.

As explained above, the apparatus 1 has a distributed control systemcomprising a first CPU 7 in the main unit 24, a second CPU 30 in thedisplay and control unit 2 and a further CPU 5 in each interface card 3,4. The second CPU 30 is configured to control the operation of the firstCPU 7, whilst the first CPU 7 is configured to control and coordinatethe operation of the CPUs 5 in each interface card 3, 4. One advantageof the distributed control system is that it allows the apparatus 1 tostimulate a large number of regions of the body simultaneously, via theaddition of extra interface cards 3, 4 and stimulation pads, which canreduce the time taken for treatment if several regions of the body areto be stimulated. This is because each interface card 3, 4 operatesunder the control of its own CPU 5, which allows the apparatus to beexpanded to include a large number of additional interface cards 3, 4without incurring significant overhead at the other CPUs 7, 30 andwithout anything more than minor software configuration changes at theother CPUs 7, 30. Similarly, the apparatus 1 can be expanded to allow astimulation modality that was not envisaged when the apparatus wasmanufactured, simply by adding an optional interface card 4 that isconfigured to produce that modality and by reconfiguring the software onthe first CPU 7 and second CPU 30.

Another advantage of the distributed control system is that it allowsprecise control over the time at which each pad 40 generatesstimulation. In particular, the distributed control system allows thetimes at which each pad 40 generates an electric pulse to be coordinated(i.e. such that each pad 40 generates a pulse at a particular time withrespect to the pulse generated by each other pad) or synchronised (i.e.such that all pads 40 generate a pulse at the same time). This isbecause each interface card 3, 4 operates under the control of its ownCPU 5, such that the CPU 7 of the main unit 24 is not burdened withgenerating pulses for several pads at precise moments in time. The CPU 7of the main unit 24 merely needs to send a start signal to eachinterface card 3, 4 (or to several interface cards 3, 4) at the correcttime, and then each interface card 3, 4 is responsible for generatingpulses at the required times. This can advantageously be used tosimulate a massaging effect upon a user, by causing each of a pluralityof pads 40 to generate pulses at a respective time delay with respect tothe pulses generated by other pads of that plurality of pads.

As mentioned above, upon receiving a start signal from the CPU 7, eachinterface card 3, 4 begins applying the stimulation that is specified bythe received message and will repeat that stimulation until a stopsignal is received. This will cause the stimulation applied by theinterface cards to become desychronised if two or more interface cardsare instructed to apply stimulation programs of different durations. Thedisplay and control unit 2 can optionally prevent such desynchronisationby modifying each stimulation program before it is transmitted from thedisplay and control unit 2 to the interface cards 3, 4 via the main unit24, such that the stimulation programs for each interface card 3, 4 havean equal duration. This is preferably achieved by appending delays (e.g.periods of time where no stimulation occurs) to the shorter stimulationprograms, until each stimulation program has the same duration.

The display and control unit 2 preferably comprises a computer programthat is operable to allow a user to design a stimulation program. Theterm ‘stimulation program’ used herein is preferably understood to meandata and/or one or more instructions that define the parameters of thestimulation that is to be applied by the stimulation apparatus 1 (and,more particularly, by the interface cards 3, 4 thereof). For example, astimulation program can define the times at which one or more interfacecards should apply stimulation, together with any other parameters ofthe stimulation (e.g. the amplitude of electric pulses, or temperatureetc.) for each of the interface cards 3, 4. The computer program allowsa user to design a stimulation program by providing a user-friendly wayfor a user to supply values for any of the parameters of the first,second, third and/or fourth types of message described above. Forexample, the computer program may be operable to display a graphicaluser interface through which a user can supply values for theparameters. The computer program is further operable to convert theparameter values supplied by a user into one or more messages, and totransmit those messages to the CPU 7 of the main unit 24 via thecommunication interfaces 9, 38. The computer program is further operableto store such user-defined stimulation programs in the memory 32 of thedisplay and control unit 2 (and, preferably, in non-volatile memory inthe display and control unit 2), or to transmit the user-definedstimulation programs to a remote database or website. The computerprogram can also retrieve predefined stimulation programs in which thevalues of the parameters are preset, to convert those parameters' valuesinto one or more messages, and to transmit those messages to the CPU 7of the main unit 24 via the communication interfaces 9, 38. Thepredefined stimulation programs can be retrieved from non-volatilememory of the display and control unit 2, or from a remote database orweb site.

The modular design of the stimulation apparatus 1, with its ability tohave up to twenty interface cards 3, 4 (or even more in someembodiments), allows a large number of stimulation pads to besimultaneously attached to a body. However, some users may experiencedifficulties in remembering the correct region of the body to which eachstimulation pad should be attached. These difficulties may beexacerbated when different stimulation programs and/or different typesof stimulation pad are to be applied to different regions of the body,since, in these situations, each pad must be placed on the correctregion of the body to ensure optimum stimulation. The display andcontrol 2 unit addresses these difficulties by assisting a user tocorrectly position the pads.

A method 50 performed by the display and control unit 2 to assist a userin correctly positioning stimulation pads 40 on a body will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The method is preferablyperformed by executing a suitable computer program on the CPU 30 of thedisplay and control unit 2. The body 44 may be the user's own body orthe body of another person or animal. Before the pads 40 are positionedon the body 44, the pads are connected to the main unit 24, via theinterface cards 3, 4, by a user.

In step 52, the display and control unit 2 identifies one or more pads40 that are connected to the main unit 24. Identifying the connectedpads preferably comprises determining how many pads 40 are connected tothe main unit 24 and determining the properties of each connected pad40. In this context, the properties of a pad 40 may include the surfacearea of a pad, its power consumption and/or the stimulation modalitiesthat it is capable of delivering (e.g. whether it is capable ofdelivering heating and/or cooling, or whether it is capable ofdelivering electrical, ultrasound, radio-frequency or laserstimulation). In one embodiment, the display and control unit 2 sends amessage to the main unit 24, via the communication interfaces 9, 38, toinstruct the main unit 24 to provide details of the connected pads 40.Upon receiving the message, the main unit 24 determines which pads 40are connected by polling each interface card 3, 4. Each interface card3, 4 then determines whether a pad 40 is connected to it and, if so,determines the properties of the connected pad 40. For example, aninterface card 3, 4 can determine the properties of a connected pad 40by measuring the impedance of the pad 40, or by interrogating logic(such as a microprocessor or memory) integrated in the pad 40 to obtaininformation regarding the pad's properties. Each interface card 3, 4responds to the polling by informing the main unit 24, via the bus 27,whether a pad 40 is connected to it and, if so, the properties of theconnected pad 40. The main unit 24 then generates an inventory of allconnected pads 40, and transmits the inventory to the display andcontrol unit 2 via the communication interfaces 9, 38. The inventoryincludes data specifying the properties of each connected pad 40 and anidentification of the interface card 3, 4 to which each pad 40 isconnected. The display and control unit 2 may compare the inventory withthe stimulation program that is to be applied, and determine the regionof the body to which each pad 40 should be connected in order deliverthe stimulation program. The determination of the region of the body towhich each pad should be connected is preferably based upon the dataspecifying the properties of each pad 40 that is contained in theinventory.

In step 54, the output device 36 of the display and control unit 2displays a visual representation of some or all of the pads 40 that areconnected to the main unit 24. Preferably, the output device shows avisual representation of each pad 40 positioned upon the region of thebody 44 to which the user should attach that pad 40.

In step 56, the input device 34 of the display and control unit 2receives a user selection of a particular pad 40. If the input device 34is a touchscreen, the user can select a particular pad by touching avisual representation of that pad 40. If the input device 34 is akeyboard, the user can select a particular pad 40 by pressing a key thatis associated with that pad. It will be appreciated that the userselection of a pad 40 may be received in any other way that isappropriate to the capabilities of the input device 34.

In step 58, the display and control unit 2 causes a visual indicator 42on the pad 40 selected by a user to be activated. For example, each pad40 may comprise a light emitting diode (LED), such that the display andcontrol unit 2 causes the LED to be illuminated when a user selects thatpad. The display and control unit 2 can cause the visual indicator 42 tobe activated by transmitting a message to the main unit 24 via thecommunication interfaces 9, 38, wherein the message instructs the mainunit to activate the visual indicator 42. Upon receiving such a message,the main unit 24 can instruct the interface card 3, 4 to which the pad40 is attached to activate the visual indicator 42, via the bus 27.Activation of the visual indicator 42 can assist the user in identifyingwhich of the pads 40 corresponds to the pad that the user selected withthe input device 34 and, therefore, can assist the user in attaching thecorrect pad 40 to the correct region of the body 44. Steps 56 and 58 canbe repeated until the user has correctly attached all of the pads 40 tothe body 44.

FIG. 6 shows the method 60 performed by the main unit 24 whilst thedisplay and control unit 2 is performing the method 50 shown in FIG. 5.In step 62, the main unit 24 identifies one or more pads 40 that areconnected by polling each interface card 3, 4, in the method alreadydescribed in connection with step 52 of FIG. 5. In step 64, the mainunit 24 transmits an inventory of all connected pads 40 to the displayand control unit 2 via the communication interfaces 9, 38. The inventoryincludes data specifying the properties of each connected pad 40 and anidentification of the interface card 3, 4 to which each pad isconnected. In step 66, the main unit 24 receives an instruction from thedisplay and control unit 2, via the communication interfaces 9, 38, toactivate the visual indicator 42 of a particular pad 40. Upon receivingthe instruction, in step 68 the main unit instructs the interface card3, 4 to which the pad 40 is attached to illuminate the visual indicator42. Steps 66 and 68 can be repeated until a user has correctly attachedall of the pads 40 to the body 44.

Whilst the method to assist a user in positioning stimulation pads uponthe body has been described with reference to the stimulation apparatusshown in FIGS. 1 to 3, it will be appreciated that the method can beimplemented using any other suitable stimulation apparatus. Inparticular, it is not essential that the stimulation apparatus comprisesa main unit, one or more interface cards and a separate display andcontrol unit; the method is equally applicable to a stimulationapparatus in which some or all of the functionality of the main unit,interface cards and display and control unit is integrated into a singledevice.

The operation of the CPUs 5, 7, 30 can be controlled by instructionsstored on a processor-readable medium. The processor-readable medium maybe: a read-only memory (including a PROM, EPROM or EEPROM); randomaccess memory; a flash memory; an electrical, electromagnetic or opticalsignal; a magnetic, optical or magneto-optical storage medium; one ormore registers of a processor; or any other type of processor-readablemedium.

The thermostimulation apparatus described herein is particularlyadvantageous for the treatment of muscular injuries, rehabilitation, butalso relaxation and massaging.

It will be understood that the invention has been described above purelyby way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made withinthe scope of the invention.

1. A method for configuring an apparatus to apply stimulation to a body, the method comprising: identifying one or more stimulation pads connected to the apparatus; displaying a visual representation of each stimulation pad positioned upon a region of the body to which that pad should be attached; receiving a user selection of a visual representation of a stimulation pad; and activating a visual indicator on the stimulation pad selected by the user.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying one or more stimulation pads comprises receiving an inventory of stimulation pads connected to the apparatus.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying one or more stimulation pads further comprises polling one or more interface cards to which the stimulation pads are connected.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising generating an inventory of stimulation pads connected to the apparatus based upon the polling.
 5. (canceled)
 6. A processor-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform a method for configuring an apparatus to apply stimulation to a body, the method comprising: identifying one or more stimulation pads connected to the apparatus; displaying a visual representation of each stimulation pad positioned upon a region of the body to which that pad should be attached; receiving a user selection of a visual representation of a stimulation pad; and activating a visual indicator on the stimulation pad selected by the user.
 7. The processor-readable medium of claim 6, wherein identifying one or more stimulation pads comprises receiving an inventory of stimulation pads connected to the apparatus.
 8. The processor-readable medium of claim 7, wherein identifying one or more stimulation pads further comprises polling one or more interface cards to which the stimulation pads are connected.
 9. The processor-readable medium of claim 8, the method further comprising generating an inventory of stimulation pads connected to the apparatus based upon the polling.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying one or more stimulation pads comprises polling one or more interface cards to which the stimulation pads are connected.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating an inventory of stimulation pads connected to the apparatus based upon the polling.
 12. The processor-readable medium of claim 6, wherein identifying one or more stimulation pads comprises polling one or more interface cards to which the stimulation pads are connected.
 13. The processor-readable medium of claim 12, the method further comprising generating an inventory of stimulation pads connected to the apparatus based upon the polling.
 14. An apparatus for applying stimulation to a body, the apparatus comprising: means for identifying one or more stimulation pads connected to the apparatus; means for displaying a visual representation of each stimulation pad positioned upon a region of the body to which that pad should be attached; means for receiving a user selection of a visual representation of a stimulation pad; and means for activating a visual indicator on the stimulation pad selected by the user.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for identifying one or more stimulation pads comprises means for receiving an inventory of stimulation pads connected to the apparatus.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for identifying one or more stimulation pads further comprises means for polling one or more interface cards to which the stimulation pads are connected.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for generating an inventory of stimulation pads connected to the apparatus based upon the polling.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for identifying one or more stimulation pads comprises means for polling one or more interface cards to which the stimulation pads are connected.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for generating an inventory of stimulation pads connected to the apparatus based upon the polling. 